Severity upholds both realm and rule.
Arthur. Ah too severe! far from a father’s mind.
Compassion is as fit for kings as wrath.
Laws must not low’r; rule oft admitteth ruth.
So hate, as if there were yet cause to love:
Take not their lives as foes which may be friends.
To spoil my son were to despoil myself:
Oft, whiles we seek our foes, we seek our foils.
Let’s rather seek how to allure his mind
With good deserts: deserts may win the worst.